tuckee



(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

W. A. TUCKER.

' CAPSULE JOINING MACHINE.

Patented Feb. 16, 1886.

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

W. A. TUCKER.

CAPSULE JOINING MAGHINE.

No. 336,177. Patented Feb.'16, 1886.

N. PETERS. Phowmha n hun Washmglan. 0.1:.

3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

W. A. TUCKER.

CAPSULE JOINING MACHINE.

(No Model.)

No. 336,177. Patented Feb. 16, 1886.

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N. PETERS. Pholb-Ulhographar. Wnhinaion. D. G

WILLIAM A; TUCKER,

CAPSULE-JOIN PATENT OFFICE.

OF N EYV YORK, N. Y.

lNG MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 336,177, dated February16, 1886.

Application filed April 27, 1885.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM A. TUCKER, of the city of New York, in thecounty and State of New York, and a citizen of the United States ofAmerica, have invented a new and Improved Capsule-Joining Machine, ofwhich the following is a full, clear, and exact description, referencebeing bad to the accompanying drawings, forming part of the same.

My invention relates to thejoining or uniting, by fitting one within theother, of the two halves of a capsule; and my invention consists in amachine containing the devices and combinations of devices hereinafterdescribed and claimed,whereby this joining or uniting of the halves ofcapsules is accomplished.

Figure 1, Sheet 1, is a side elevation of a machine containing myinvention. Fig. 2, Sheet 2, is a front elevation of the same. Fig. 3 isa vertical central section of the same on a line between the feed rollsor wheels; and Fig. 4 is a transverse vertical section of the parts anddevices whereby the gripping-arms, hereinafter described, are actuatedto be rotated, and showing also the feed rolls or wheels in peripheralelevation.

Ais the frame of the machine, in the upper part of which is journaledthe main drivingshaft A.

B is a carriage arranged to reciprocally traverse the frame, and movingon bearings 1), working on ways b, mounted on the frame and actuated bythe crank a on the main shaft through the connecting-rod a.

G and G are the capsule gripping and joining arms, which are mounted,respectively, on the opposite sides of the carriage'frame, and en tendinwardly therefrom on the same axial line and with their inner endsopposed to each other. The opposed faces of the inner ends of the armsare recessed, as shown at c and 0', these recesses being adapted toreceive, respectively, the two halves of which a capsule is composed,with the closed end of the halfcapsule seated in the bottom of therecess and the open ends or months of the halves extended somewhatbeyond the recesses. A capsule being formed with one half of a lessdiameter than the other, so that the mouth of one may pass into and fitthe mouth of the other, the

Serial No. 163,501. (No model) having the same axial line and beingopposed to each other, are in position to be joined or united by passingthe mouth of one half into the mouth of the other. The recessed ends ofthe arms 0 and O are divided longitudinally and centrally of therecesses into the jaws 0 c and 0%, respectively. Thesejaws are pivotedtogether, as shown at c, and they are held closed by means of a lever,0, extending from the arms 0 and O and controlled by aspring, 0. Thesearms 0 and 0, one or both, have a longitudinal reciprocatory motion,whereby the opposed recessed capsule-holding ends alternately approachtoward and recede from each other, and at the same time one or both ofsaid arms have a reciprocatory rotary motion, the rotation of one arm,when both are rotated, being in the opposite direction to the rotationof the other arm.

The desirable means by which these de scribed motions are given to thesaid arms consist in the following devices: The arms are respectivelyfixed in a recess or socket, d, preferably by a pin or key, (1, in theends of the shafts D and D, these shafts being respectively journaled insleeves (1 1?, which are fixed. preferably by a pin or screw, d, inrecesses b" in the opposite sides of the carriage-frame B. Upon theoutward ends of these shafts is feathered a driving-pinion, (P, which isheld in its place by the ring d fitting loosely into a circumferentialgroove, d on the hub of the pinion, and secured to the outward end ofthe carriage-frame B by screws or bolts d The driving-pinion d engages arack, d, mounted on the machine-frame A by supports or arms a", and whenboth shafts D and D are rotated the racks d are diametrically oppositelylocated as to the common axial line of the shafts, one being over thepinion on one shaft and the other being under the pinion on the othershaft, whereby, when the shafts are rotated, owing to the reciprocationof the carriage B on the frame, the shafts, and consequently the arms 0and C, will be given an oppositely-directed reciprocatory rotary motion.Each shaftDand Dis provided with aw ormgroove, al into which takes astud or pin, (2, set in the sleeves (1 (1 whereby the reciprocation oftwo halves thus seated in the recessed arms the carriage B will at thesame time that it one of the jaws of each pair longitudinally of a givesthe described -'reciprocat,ory rotary vmotion to the shafts also givesaid shafts and the arms 0 and 0, carried thereby, a longitudinalreciprocatory motion, causing the opposed ends of the arms 0 and G toalternately approach toward and recede from each other.

It is evident that by means of the described construction andarrangement of the parts either of the shafts D D, carrying the arms 0C, may be withdrawn from the carriage-frame by simply unbolting the ringd and unseating the screw-pin d, and then sliding the sleeves and theircontained devices out through the outward end of the carriage-frame. Itis also evident, as hereinbefore intimated, that both of the capsuleholding and joining arms may be given the described motions, or that oneof them may be rigid and the other be given the motions stated. I findit desirable, however, that both of the arms have the describedconcurrent motions.

'At E and E are shown the feed devices which carry the capsule-halves tothe jaws of the arms 0 and C. These devices are preferably in the formof wheels or disks, which are fixed on a shaft, 0, journaled in bearingse in'the machine-frame A, and are so placed that the periphery of .eachone is vertically beneath the jaws of the arm, to which it feeds ahalf-capsule when the carriage B, bearing the arms, is at the limit ofits downward movement. These devices are coincidently notched at e toreceive and carry the half-capsules,and they are given an intermittentrotary motion, which may be accomplished by means of a ratchet. e fixedon the shaft e, operated by a pawl, e, carried by a lever, e, whichswings on the shaft 6, as shown, and is actuated by the reciprocatingcarriage B, through the rod e which is pivoted at one end to theextremity of the lever e and at the other to the ear-v riage at e".

Upon the inner, side or face of the carriageframe B are fixed thecam-blocks F and F, which are preferably adjustable by means of theslots f. These cam-blocks are so located and arranged relatively to thelevers c of the jaws of the arms 0 and O that when the carriage B hasreached the limit of its upward move- 1 main shaft A.

ment the levers c", by the rotation of the arms G C, will engage thefacef of the cam-blocks and be depressed, overcoming the springs 0 andthus causing thejaws 0? c and c c to open.

At G G are shown double cams fixed (11 a shaft, 9, journaled in theframe A, and driven by a pinion, g, which is actuated by a pinion, 9 onthe shaft 9 journaled at g on the frame and driven by pinion g frompinion a on the These'double cams are so located and arranged relativelyto the described levers c of the jaws of the arms 0 and O that when thecarriage B has approached closely to the limit of its downward movementthe levers 0 willengage the face 9 of the cams G G and be depressed,overcoming the springs 0 thus causing the gripping-jaws a 0 and c c" toopemand receive their respective hal f-capsu-l'esfrom the feed-wheels,and then escape from said faceg of the cams, whereby the jaws will bereleased, and by action of their controlling-springs will close upon andhold the said half-capsules. The half-capsules may be fed to each of thenotched feed-wheels by a hopper, such as is shown at H.

I do not intend to limit myself to the precise devices herein described,whereby the named motions are given to the gripping-jaws andthefeed-wheels; any other known equivalent devices may be employed for thispurpose.

' The operation of my machine is as follows: The halves of the capsules,with their open ends opposed to each other, are fed down through thehoppers H to the peripheries of thejwheels E and E, and there the twohalves which are to form a capsule fall into two of I the coincidentnotches on the wheels, and are carried therein to the gripping-j aws.The carriage 'B has now reached the limit of its downward movement, andthe grippingjaws c 0 and 0 0 are held open by the engagement of thelevers c and face 9 of cams G G. At the moment when the limit of thisdownward movement is attained the open gripping-jaws descend upon and,inclose the respective capsule-halves, and the levers c escaping thecams G G the jaws close upon and take up the cap sulehalves in theposition'shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3. It is desirable that thereshould be some little lost motion at this point to the carriage B, whichmay be provided for at the joint thereto of the rod (1, so that anappreciable space of time may elapse when the carriage has descended tothe limit of its course, and before it begins its ascent, so that thegripping-jaws may close on the capsulehalves by the escape of the leversc from the cams G G before the ascent of the carriage is begun. Thecarriage then begins its upward movement, and, as hereinbeforedescribed, the jaws carrying the capsule-halves will approach eachother, and the mouth of the smaller half-capsule will be passed into themouth of the larger half, and at the same time the half-capsules-one orboth-will' be rotated, and thereby the passing of one of the halves intothe other and the joining and fitting of them together will be assistedand facilitated. The capsule-halves being thus united, the carriage Bwill approach the limit of its upward movement, and the levers c, by therotation of the gripping'jaws, will be brought into en? gagement withthe facesf of the cam-blocks F and F, whereby, when the carriage hasreached the limit of its upward movement the iio grippingjaws Will beopened into the position gin its descent, the gripping-jaws being thenreversely rotated and drawn backward from each other. On reaching thelimit of its downward movement the levers 0 will engage the face 9 ofthe cams G G, and the jaws will thereby open and will range,respect-ivel'y,over the feed-wheels E and E, and the feedwheels having,by the mechanism hereinbefore described, been rotated the space to thenext notches, two new capsule-halves therein will be brought to thejaws,which, closing by the escape of the levers c from the cams GG, will takeup the said new halves and grip them, as described, preparatory to thejoining thereof, as set forth.

The operation of the machine is continuous, successive capsule-halvesbeing fed up to the jaws, which grip and then unite and drop them, andthen take up successive halves, as described.

It is evident that other devices than those described may be employed togive the gripping-jawsone or both-their specified longitudinalreciproeatory and rotaly reciproeatory motions, and that thereciproeatory motion of the carriage B may be given by a cam in place ofthe crank-shaft and connecting-rod shown.

\Vhat I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,is

1. In a capsule-joining machine, the combination of thehalf-capsule-gripping jaws opposed to each other and arranged on acommon longitudinal axial line, and devices, substantially as described,whereby one or both have a longitudinal reciprocating motion and areciprocating rotary motion, as and for the purpose specified.

2. In a capsule-joining machine, the combination, with thehalf-eapsule-gripping jaws arranged opposedly on a common longitudinalaxial line, and feed-wheels, one for each pair of jaws, peripherallynotched to receive and carry the half-capsules, of devices,substantially as described, whereby said jaws one or both-havealongitudinal reciproeatory and reciproeatory rotary motion, and saidfeed-wheels have an intermittent rotary motion, as and for the purposeset forth.

3. In a capsule-joining machine, the combination, with the peripherallynotched feedwheels and the opposed gripping-jaws, of devices,substantially as described,whereby said wheels are intermittentlyrotated, and said jaws have a longitudinal reciproeatory andreciproeatory rotary motion, and open to take up a half-capsule at thelimit of their motions in one direction, and to release the completedcapsule at the limit of their motions in the opposite direction, and aremaintained closed during more or less of their motions in eitherdirection, as described, and for the purpose specified.

4. In a capsule-joining machine, the combination, with a carriage havinga reciprocal traverse of the machine, and the half-capsule gripping jawsmounted opposedly and on a common longitudinal axial line on thecarriage, of devices, substantially as described, intermediate thecarriage and the grippingjaws, whereby the reciprocation of thecarriagegives thejawsone or bothalongitudinal reciproeatory and areciproeatory rotary motion, as and for the purpose specified.

5. In a capsule-joining machine, the combination, with a carriage havinga reciprocal traverse of the machine, and the half-capsulegripping jawsmounted opposedly and on a common longitudinal axial line on thecarriage, and the peripherally-notched half-capsule feed-whecls, ofdevices, substantially as described, intermediate the carriage and thegripping-jaws and the feed-wheels, respectively, whereby thereciprocation of the carriage gives, respectively, thejaws--one orboth-a longitudinal reciproeatory and areciprocatory rotary motion,andthe feed-wheels intermittent rotary motion concurrent therewith, as andfor the.purpose specified.

6. The combination, in a capsule-joining machine, of the reciprocatingcarriage B, carrying the opposed arms 0 0, having the capsule-grippingjaws, said arms being-one or bothprovided with a shaft, D and D,havm gworm-grooves d sleeve (1 pin d, pinion d, and rack d", as and for thepurpose specified.

7. The combination, in a capsule-joining machine, of arm 0, carryingcapsulegripping jaws.and detachably seated in socket d in shaft D, whichhas worm-groove d sleeve d, carrying pin (1, and seated in recess 7) incarriage B, pin (1*, pinion (i having annular groove (1, and ring (1, asand for the purpose specified.

8. In a capsule-joining machine, the combination, with the reciprocatingcarriage B, carrying the capsule-grippingjaws having a longitudinalreciproeatory and reciproeatory rotary motion, of theperipherally-notched feedwheels E and E on shaft e, ratchet a, lever e,pawls e, and rod 6 pivoted to the carriage at e, as and for the purposespecified.

9. In a capsule-joining machine, the capsule-gripping jaws c c and 0 0carried by arms 0 and C, and havinglevers o and springs .0 as and forthe purpose specified.

10. In a capsule-joining machine, the com bination,with thereciprocating carriage carrying the capsule-grippingjaws--one orbothhaving a longitudinal reciproeatory and re ciprocatory rotarymot-ion, and provided with levers c of the cams F and Fone or bothhaving bearing-facef, as and for the purpose specified.

11. In acapsule-joining-machine,the combination, with the reciprocatingcarriage carrying the capsule-grippingjaws-one or bothhaving alongitudinal reciproeatory and re ciprocatory rotary motion, andprovided with spring-levers c, ofthe rotating cams G and G- one orboth-having the bearing-face g, as and for the purpose specified. 4

12. In a capsule-joining machine, the com- ICO ass, 111

carrying the arms 0 and .0, bearing the cap: sule-grippingjaws,having-.one or both-the described reciprocatory motions,and providedwith levers c, of the cam-blocks F and F, one [5 or both, secured to theinward face of the carriage-frame, as and for the purpose specified.

WM. A. TUCKER.

\Vitnesses: V r Y A. G. N. VERMILYA, A'. S. FITCH.

